Opening Remarks by H.E. Dessima Williams on behalf of H.E. Mr Peter Thomson, President of the General Assembly
H.E. Ms. Dessima Williams
On behalf of the President of the General Assembly
ummmmÿ
Opening Remarks at the Global Sustainable Transport Conference
Ashgabat, 26 November 2016
Your Excellency, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov,
Mr Secretary-General,
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour to deliver this statement today on behalf of the
President of 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E.
Peter Thomson.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to express my sincere
gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan for hosting this
conference and I regret that I am unable to participate in person at this
meeting due to prior commitments.
just over two months ago, I made a solemn commitment to the
members of the General Assembly to do all in my power to strengthen
momentum around implementation of each of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals during my term in office.
I did so because, in my view, these goals capture the essence of what we
need to transition to a more sustainable and just world.
They represent a once in a generation opportunity to bring an end to the
scourge of poverty, exclusion and discrimination; to deliver peace in
larger freedom; and to give all people a fair path to prosperous and
fulfilling lives.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals represent perhaps our final
chance to bend the curve on climate change, to save our people and our
planet from a future of destruction, scarcity and conflict by embracing a
green economy that is good for both society and environment.
Sustainable transport is absolutely central to seizing this opportunity and
I congratulate the Secretary-General for taldng this timely initiative.
Sustainable Transport is a key development component for all countries
and all regions; for the achievement of each of the SDGs; for delivering
a new urban reality and fulfilling the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Sustainable Transport is about ensuring people everyv&ere have access
to what they need most: jobs, markets and goods, social interaction,
education, and a full range of other services.
It is about fuelling our way of life in a manner that is energy efficient
and environmentally sustainable.
It is a lifeline, in particular for countries in special situations--for
landlocked countries and for Small Island Developing States that are far
removed from the major hubs of international trade.
The question for all of us here today is how we get from where we are
now to where we need to be?
And how do we do this before it is too late - both for those who are
currently being left behind, and for the good health of our planet?
The Analysis and Policy Recommendations report
Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group
Transport is a strong contribution in this regard.
from the UN
on Sustainable
It points the way to addressing rising challenges, particularly in urban
areas, allowing us to see opportunities that sustainable transport can
make possible.
Addressing these challenges will require bold and farsighted policy along
with planning and investment decisions based on the three dimensions
of sustainable development.
It will require effective and efficient infrastructure, that, in many
countries--especially developing countries-- is sorely lacking today.
Experts estimate that USD $90 trillion is needed for investment into
energy, transport and urbanization over the next 15 years to change that
reality, with two-thirds of that going to developing countries.
This will demand a combination of public and private investment, with
public investment used strategically to help crowd-in or leverage further
private investment.
Of course building urban and transport infrastructure is not enough --
it must be sustainable infrastructure, particularly because of the lockedin,
long-term nature of infrastructure investments and it must be climate
resilient.
This dual focus will compound the benefits of infrastructure investment
-- allowing us to mitigate climate change and the pollution and
congestion factors that plague cities.
Excellencies, the sustainable transport revolution will only happen with
all actors on board.
We must ensure, for example, that the global public and especially our
young people, see the SDGs as both rights and responsibilities; and that
individuals and societies accept the SDGs as the best path towards
attaining sustainability.
We must also work to activate partnerships and align all relevant
stakeholder in the universal and integrated pursuit of the SDGs - the
UN system, international financial institutions, multilateral bodies,
regulatory authorities, the private sector, local authorities, civil society,
academia, the youth and people everywhere.
As President of the General Assembly, I am calling upon all
stakeholders - globally, regionally, nationally and at community levels -
to use opportunities like this conference to come together around
concrete plans and concrete initiatives for SDG action and in this case
the development of sustainable transport.
In April, I intend to host a dedicated meeting on financing at UN HQ in
New York with a specific focus on how different regulatory schemes
and financial instruments can be adapted to fund crucial SDGs sectors
such as infrastructure and transport.
And in June, the UN Conference on Oceans in New York will be a
tipping point for the international community to drive global climate
action and the universal effort needed to return our oceans to health, a
topic that should also be of strong interest to those active in marine
transportation.
I hope that you will lend your expertise and your commitment to the
transformation our world needs - for human dignity, peace, prosperity
and sustainability.
There is no time to lose.
I thank you.
On behalf of the President of the General Assembly
ummmmÿ
Opening Remarks at the Global Sustainable Transport Conference
Ashgabat, 26 November 2016
Your Excellency, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov,
Mr Secretary-General,
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour to deliver this statement today on behalf of the
President of 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E.
Peter Thomson.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to express my sincere
gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan for hosting this
conference and I regret that I am unable to participate in person at this
meeting due to prior commitments.
just over two months ago, I made a solemn commitment to the
members of the General Assembly to do all in my power to strengthen
momentum around implementation of each of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals during my term in office.
I did so because, in my view, these goals capture the essence of what we
need to transition to a more sustainable and just world.
They represent a once in a generation opportunity to bring an end to the
scourge of poverty, exclusion and discrimination; to deliver peace in
larger freedom; and to give all people a fair path to prosperous and
fulfilling lives.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals represent perhaps our final
chance to bend the curve on climate change, to save our people and our
planet from a future of destruction, scarcity and conflict by embracing a
green economy that is good for both society and environment.
Sustainable transport is absolutely central to seizing this opportunity and
I congratulate the Secretary-General for taldng this timely initiative.
Sustainable Transport is a key development component for all countries
and all regions; for the achievement of each of the SDGs; for delivering
a new urban reality and fulfilling the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Sustainable Transport is about ensuring people everyv&ere have access
to what they need most: jobs, markets and goods, social interaction,
education, and a full range of other services.
It is about fuelling our way of life in a manner that is energy efficient
and environmentally sustainable.
It is a lifeline, in particular for countries in special situations--for
landlocked countries and for Small Island Developing States that are far
removed from the major hubs of international trade.
The question for all of us here today is how we get from where we are
now to where we need to be?
And how do we do this before it is too late - both for those who are
currently being left behind, and for the good health of our planet?
The Analysis and Policy Recommendations report
Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group
Transport is a strong contribution in this regard.
from the UN
on Sustainable
It points the way to addressing rising challenges, particularly in urban
areas, allowing us to see opportunities that sustainable transport can
make possible.
Addressing these challenges will require bold and farsighted policy along
with planning and investment decisions based on the three dimensions
of sustainable development.
It will require effective and efficient infrastructure, that, in many
countries--especially developing countries-- is sorely lacking today.
Experts estimate that USD $90 trillion is needed for investment into
energy, transport and urbanization over the next 15 years to change that
reality, with two-thirds of that going to developing countries.
This will demand a combination of public and private investment, with
public investment used strategically to help crowd-in or leverage further
private investment.
Of course building urban and transport infrastructure is not enough --
it must be sustainable infrastructure, particularly because of the lockedin,
long-term nature of infrastructure investments and it must be climate
resilient.
This dual focus will compound the benefits of infrastructure investment
-- allowing us to mitigate climate change and the pollution and
congestion factors that plague cities.
Excellencies, the sustainable transport revolution will only happen with
all actors on board.
We must ensure, for example, that the global public and especially our
young people, see the SDGs as both rights and responsibilities; and that
individuals and societies accept the SDGs as the best path towards
attaining sustainability.
We must also work to activate partnerships and align all relevant
stakeholder in the universal and integrated pursuit of the SDGs - the
UN system, international financial institutions, multilateral bodies,
regulatory authorities, the private sector, local authorities, civil society,
academia, the youth and people everywhere.
As President of the General Assembly, I am calling upon all
stakeholders - globally, regionally, nationally and at community levels -
to use opportunities like this conference to come together around
concrete plans and concrete initiatives for SDG action and in this case
the development of sustainable transport.
In April, I intend to host a dedicated meeting on financing at UN HQ in
New York with a specific focus on how different regulatory schemes
and financial instruments can be adapted to fund crucial SDGs sectors
such as infrastructure and transport.
And in June, the UN Conference on Oceans in New York will be a
tipping point for the international community to drive global climate
action and the universal effort needed to return our oceans to health, a
topic that should also be of strong interest to those active in marine
transportation.
I hope that you will lend your expertise and your commitment to the
transformation our world needs - for human dignity, peace, prosperity
and sustainability.
There is no time to lose.
I thank you.